Pr. Pascal Houzé

ABSTRACT

Respiratory failure is the primary cause of death in poisonings involving carbamate insecticides. However, the mechanisms of respiratory toxicity induced by carbamates remain unclear. The aims of this study were i) to describe the respiratory effects of methomyl, ii) to assess the peripheral or central origin of those effects, and iii) to study the dose-effect relationship of atropine. A dose of methomyl corresponding to 50% of the median lethal dose was given intraperitoneally to rats. Ventilation at rest was assessed using whole body plethysmography and core body temperature using infra-red telemetry. The central or peripheral origin was assessed comparing the effect of equipotent doses of atropine and methylatropine. The effects of dose of atropine ranging from 1 to 10 mg/kg were assessed. Total cholinesterase activities were determined using a radiometric method.